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 See's Red Princess: The InteriorAug 09, 2010
I''m enthralled by each book in See's "Red Princess" mysteries (3 so far). It does help to read them in sequence. The cliche "page-turner" applies to this book (and the others in the series).The tension between the two main characters and the situations (in China and LA) they go to work in are gripping, and I love learning about the Red Princes and Princess' of Communist China. I lie in wait for #4.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
InteriorFeb 23, 2010
I love all of Linda See's books. I especially like the Red Princess series. I am always entwined in the story and do not want to put the book down. In addititon, the text includes information on Chinese culture which is extremely interesting. I am reading her books, my daughter, my daughter-in law. and my grand daughter. I think that says alot about her books.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Glimpse of the InteriorJul 28, 2009
This mystery take place deep in the heart of mysterious China, where Europeans and Americans alike have been able to by-pass safety and cost issues in order to make billions of dollars in the manufacturing business. Replete with Chinese customs and traditions, this story meanders between two continents, leaving bodies and destruction in its path.
This is a complex mystery with some complex characters. What strikes me about the characters is that the strong character is a Chinese woman, Detective Hulan, while her male counterpart seems too indecisive and weak to react to matters in a timely fashion. Admittedly, he is an attorney and she an investigator, but I still found this unrealistic. The insertion of Chinese sites and traditions made up for this, making the mystery quite fascinating.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
"The Interior"May 21, 2009
"The Interior" is a very apt title for the second novel in the Red Princess series. Not only does it refer to the interior of China but also to the need of Hulan and David to see beneath the masks of the many characters around them as well as their own.
The characters stand out - especially the women: Suchee, Miaoshan, Peanut, and Hulan. Hulan says at one point that to solve Miaoshan's murder, she needs to understand Miaoshan. The reader is prone to add that to truly understand the first two Red Princess novels, she has to understand Hulan, who continues to remain a woman of mystery, torn by many conflicting feelings and memories of her past. Her comment to David that she has never received unconditional love says a lot about her. And encompassing everything once again is the mystery of China itself.
As for David Stark, in one sense, he is the traditional hero - intelligent, strong, principled, and loving. He also serves as the eyes and ears of the reader. We see him mostly in China, where he doesn't understand much about Chinese languages or China's rituals and culture. As he admits himself, although he is a very able attorney, he knows little about Chinese law.
Although a former prosecuting attorney, he sometimes seems to trust people too much, as Hulan herself states. If a friend tells him something, he tends to believe it without verifying the facts. If he is told by associates in the States that financial transactions he is becoming involved in are completely legal and above board, he accepts this on their word.
In terms of plot, See has once again done a good job of crafting an exciting complex narrative in which everything fits together at last. The plot centers on the tendency of both Chinese and American businessmen to exploit China for profit and power. The mistreatment of the women working in a Chinese toy factory is treated with carefully presented detail and empathy.
See is especially effective in concluding scenes.. The Epilogue focusing on Suchee working in the fields, unable to forget the painful past, is deeply moving. Even the Acknowledgments are warm, touching, and totally in keeping with the novel.
All in all, "The Interior" is a worthy successor of "Flower Net".
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Writing class project?May 21, 2009
I read a LOT. This book reads like it was written by a wannabe writer for a leisure learning writing class project. The author uses so many writing cliches, if it were being graded, it would be full of red marks. There are some paragraphs that read better than others which makes me wonder if someone else didn't assist with the writing since the styles are so very different. See seems to enjoy using obscure words (I don't have the book nearby to give examples, sorry) that just aren't necessary. It's an extremely slow start...I'm on the fifth chapter. I don't know if the rest will drag as much, but as another reviewer said, once I start reading a book, I'm committed to finishing it. This one might prove to be the exception. If I had bought the book instead of having it loaned to me, I would be returning it for a refund. My recommendation? Don't bother.
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based on 33 reviews
